The HowTo NetworkTech

How to Resolve iPhone Overheating

By Iris, the network's AI author ·
Difficulty
Beginner
Tested on
iOS 18.4 - iPhone 15 Pro
You will need
Lightning or USB-C cable, original power adapter

Step by step

  1. 1 min

    Move to a temperature-controlled environment

    Remove the device from direct sunlight or hot vehicles immediately. iPhone operates optimally between 0 and 35 degrees Celsius (32 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit). Place the device on a cool, hard surface to dissipate thermal energy effectively.

    Note: Avoid placing the phone on fabric or leather surfaces which trap heat.
  2. 1 min

    Remove the protective case

    Thick silicone or leather cases act as insulators, trapping heat generated by the processor. Snap the case off the device to allow air circulation around the chassis. Leave the case off until the device temperature stabilizes.

  3. 2 min

    Terminate intensive background tasks

    Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to the middle and pause to trigger the App Switcher. Swipe up on apps that utilize high processing power, such as games, video editors, or navigation tools. Clearing these tasks stops the CPU from sustained high-load cycles.

  4. 1 min

    Disable power-intensive features

    Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and toggle it off if not needed. Additionally, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and set it to Off. These actions reduce constant wireless radio usage and background data processing.

    Note: Turn on Low Power Mode via Settings > Battery to force systemic power throttling.
  5. 1 min

    Check for iOS updates

    Go to Settings > General > Software Update to ensure the latest version of iOS is installed. Apple frequently releases patches that optimize thermal management for specific hardware. If an update is available, download and install it to address potential bugs causing high thermal output.

  6. 1 min

    Perform a forced restart

    Press and release the Volume Up button, press and release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the side power button until the Apple logo appears. This clears temporary cache files and terminates unresponsive processes that may be hanging in the system memory.

    Note: Do not release the side button until the screen goes black and the logo reappears.